tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309139102012-01-17T20:38:16.573-05:00Random posts from my trials, tribulations, and successes as a new farm marketer.Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.comBlogger2581100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-10278391450316354852011-09-18T00:02:00.001-04:002011-09-18T00:02:55.458-04:00

The two week deadline we gave the neighbor to keep his poultry on his own property had expired on Monday last week.  On Tuesday and Wednesday, the six ducks were still making daily trips to our pond.  We were plotting how we would "contain" the ducks in a crate on Thursday night and call the county Animal Control on Friday morning, but, surprisingly, the ducks stayed home on Thursday! 

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-51285904698919710762011-09-03T10:50:00.001-04:002011-09-03T10:57:43.885-04:00

Acts 19 3 If therefore Demetrius and the artisans with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges there against one another. 39If there is anything further you want to know, it must be settled in the regular assembly. 40For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-56296330134305090792011-09-03T10:00:00.000-04:002011-09-03T10:55:28.716-04:00

Twelve days ago, I got up my nerve and rode the 4-wheeler over to discuss the duck situation with the next-door neighbor.  I went to the back door, there was a fence around it.  Not wanting to open the gate without permission, I went to the front door.  There was a kiddie gate across the top of the steps, and it was closed.  Still hesitant to cross marked boundaries, I circled around to the

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-43370249846253872822011-08-03T04:36:00.003-04:002011-08-03T05:44:02.827-04:00

The Michigan Right to Farm Act allows any property owner to declare themselves a "farm" and therefore raise food for themselves and their families, as long as they comply with "generally accepted agricultural management principles". In this document, fencing is described for all types of livestock, including bees, but not for poultry. There is a mention that poultry housing should be clean and

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-15952186110694945672011-07-31T13:36:00.002-04:002011-07-31T13:40:36.722-04:00

We visited the farm last weekend and as we were getting ready to leave, spoke to the neighbor across the street, the husband of the young women with small children. She was the one who threatened to bring suit in civil court because her child had gotten a couple of bee stings earlier this year.He was very laid back. He said bees are a part of nature, he realizes they are not under our control,

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-51984771678392606522011-07-27T20:27:00.004-04:002011-07-27T20:31:32.477-04:00

The ducks are in the pond right now. I ate duck tonight at the local Thai restaurant in Romeo, MI. This was symbolic....I did NOT eat my neighbors ducks, however I am considering it...

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-24564996347301734922011-07-24T13:29:00.002-04:002011-07-24T16:31:51.294-04:00

Is growing food for yourself and your neighbors a basic human right?Apparently we are losing it.Dollarhite family in Nixa, MO - fined by USDA for unlicensed rabbits http://youtu.be/5S9JKfAZi7AJulie Bass in Oak Park, MI - local city officials charge with misdemeanor for vegetable garden http://oakparkhatesveggies.wordpress.com and unlicensed dogsDirk Becker and Nicole Shaw in Lantzville, British

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-55120872453913454282011-07-24T05:16:00.004-04:002011-07-24T05:39:29.750-04:00

We timed it right to harvest the Yellow Transparents this year! For some reason we have HUGE apples ( for Yellow Transparents, anyway). I picked a bushel of the low-hanging fruit. Hope to get some more tomorrow. Standing on back of truck to reach higher branches. I don't trust the orchard ladders around here, or my agility.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-8431515937809124632011-07-21T23:34:00.004-04:002011-07-22T07:01:56.894-04:00

Ducks are still laying eggs underwater. I have to wade in, pick them up then go to the field in the "back 4o " to dispose of themBut at least some of the eggs are not laid underwater. I am told by farmgirl friends as long as the "film" covering the egg is not disturbed, the egg probably can be used beause the membrane forms a seal around the egg, protecting it from bacteria.The ducks still swim

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-76500202211677304142011-07-20T07:52:00.003-04:002011-07-20T08:20:57.793-04:00

"I'd like to build the world a home, and furnish it with love,Grow apple trees,and honeybees, and snow white turtle doves"This was a favorite hymn in my hometown church congregation and I often find myself singing it.I've got the apple trees and honeybees covered, but I'm still working on the turtledoves.Evidently my neighbors don't have the same loving associations that I do concerning apple

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-74835092651171450762011-07-19T19:36:00.003-04:002011-07-19T22:17:29.495-04:00

Other people's pets!The next door neighbors decided to become poultry farmers this year. They have have a dozen chickens, and half a dozen ducks.They put in a kiddie pool for the ducks. When the ducks got a little older, they started visiting our pond. My husband and I were concerned that they did not know that our pond is treated to keep the algae down, so we went over and talked to them.The

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-27960365634735928512011-07-18T21:50:00.003-04:002011-07-18T22:08:09.796-04:00

With the move of our household and new job, I have definitely been neglecting my blog. Last year I didn't even have a successful garden, I planted zucchini and only harvested about 3, so you know I didn't put much effort into it. The existing thistles multiplied instead of divided and I was really discouraged. Moving to an area where there are so many farm markets (NOT farmer's markets, there is

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-10188870874985650862011-07-18T20:21:00.003-04:002011-07-18T21:13:38.214-04:00

Lately I have found myself fascinated, no really, obsessed, with the story of Julie Bass of Oak Park, Michigan. After having to tear up her yard for a plumbing issue caused by a tree on the city's side of the sidewalk (at her own expense), she decided it would be a nice plan to put a raised bed garden in instead of the lawn. She called the city offices to see if it would be all right. They read

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-78940409028301655472011-04-04T23:10:00.002-04:002011-04-04T23:22:51.682-04:00

I moved to Michigan over a year ago. I see I have had exactly one post since then. Has Facebook taken over as my new favorite? I don't think so! I had to do quite a bit of travelling for my new job and just didn't dedicate enough time to gardening, or to blogging about it. With moving last year I had little time for gardening. The soil here is quite sandy. The patch of yard the previous owner had

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-21160468922042532092010-12-12T21:53:00.001-05:002010-12-12T21:54:33.590-05:00

The wind is howling outside, before it got dark it looked like we had two -three inches of snow accumulated. I am sure that the blowing winds will move it around to the most inconvenient places.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-56291054233982559642010-04-11T06:03:00.003-04:002010-04-11T06:13:14.725-04:00

Yesterday when I returned from the Michigan farmgirl luncheon in East Lansing, I finally planted the chives and oriental cabbages that I dug up last weekend at the house in Ohio. I hope they survive, the chives seemed to be OK but the soil around little cabbages was a little dried out, and they seemed a little bit wilted.The cabbages were a gift of mother nature - I think some of the seed pods

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-50435589647690090682010-01-23T16:20:00.002-05:002010-01-23T16:27:21.061-05:00

It has been pretty hectic with new job, move, unpacking, getting settled in, finding our way around the new neighborhood, and all. I'm afraid the blog posts have been few and far between!I didn't get any seed catalogs from seed companies this year -- I am sure they all went to the dead letter office since USPS only forwards first-class mail. But one of my farmgirl friends on Mary Jane's

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-75806233666183118612009-12-26T12:02:00.003-05:002009-12-26T12:14:31.737-05:00

New location of Bright Meadow Farms! We are no longer in North Central Ohio but have moved about 20 miles north of Warren, Michigan.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-83776362917921616502009-10-29T23:02:00.003-04:002009-10-29T23:10:17.731-04:00

Two weekends ago we were at the farm in Kent City and harvested our pumpkins and popcorn. It was a beautiful day and I didn't mind harvesting the popcorn by hand, picking each ear then stripping the husks back and throwing the kernels in the basket. I harvested 5 half-bushel baskets full of popcorn. The ears were very wet but I was hoping to dry them. We brought them down in the back of my

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-40798466646166861472009-10-28T19:19:00.003-04:002009-10-28T19:43:18.452-04:00

So much has happened in the last few months with so little time to pause and reflect that it is all a blur.I had knee surgery during August and had to use a walker, then a cane, to get around for a few months.In mid-August, my father suffered side effects of a drug he was taking for his heart, a recurrence of the problem he had in February. This caused a major lung condition and he was in

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-50667012802012097982009-08-28T14:10:00.001-04:002009-08-28T14:11:44.563-04:00

My father has been suffering some pretty major health problems so I haven't been able to spend time in the garden or online much recently.Will return as soon as possible!

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-18866585645371854812009-08-12T13:51:00.001-04:002009-08-12T13:51:18.618-04:00

there is a huge zucchini class! lol~~wendy~~

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-87694861580714178092009-08-08T21:38:00.002-04:002009-08-08T22:10:41.468-04:00

I've been canning all day and my efforts have yielded 7 quarts of garlic dill pickles, 11 pints of green beans, 3 quarts of sweet pickles, and one quart of dilly beans. (OK, I know, about $35.o0 retail, and it took me all day...with the big burner going on the stove... I wonder how much the electric bill will be this month?) But I know where this food came from, I know which chemicals were used

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-65316539482056685402009-08-08T00:13:00.002-04:002009-08-08T00:42:08.869-04:00

Tonight I went, alone, to watch Julie & Julia movie. I read the book a few years ago, and posted on Mary Jane's Farmgirl connection about it, and the movie moved me as much, or more, than the book. After reading the book I was inspired enough to buy a Julia Child cookbook, but after seeing the movie, maybe I should have gotten Julia's biography instead.I was definitely moved to tears while

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-7657973140928985892009-08-07T22:42:00.003-04:002009-08-08T00:55:55.446-04:00

OK, the contest is over, I've cooked the recipes (I apologize, it took longer than I thought) and I am announcing that Serene Bean is the winner for the squash-stuffed chicken recipe.The runners up are 1badmamawolf for her stuffed zucchini, and Lisa Marie for the chip recipes.Please send me an email through MFJ connection to claim your prizes!

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-60220404790637311652009-07-13T16:46:00.005-04:002009-07-13T19:32:42.412-04:00

The zucchini are coming in, and they are piling up! I still have shredded zucchini in the freezer from last year, so I'm sponsoring a contest. Leave me your unusual zucchini recipe in a comment!By unusual I mean -- No zucchini bread- No chocolate cake- No ratatouille recipe or anything with canned/jarred spaghetti sauce- No faux apple pie- No chicken/cream soup casserole with or without stuffing-

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-32575421307347300132009-07-11T12:19:00.006-04:002009-07-13T17:47:54.227-04:00

I had knee surgery on Thursday. There was no question of gardening on Thursday or yesterday, because I was in quite a bit of pain, but today I was feeling well enough to venture out to the garden with my walker to pick a few of the zucchini - Rain was forecast for today and I didn't want them swelling up to football size. I took a small basket with me, and handling the walker and the basket was a

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-63105228674476901662009-07-08T19:39:00.003-04:002009-07-13T19:39:41.398-04:00

I've been harvesting zucchini - a few tiny ones before we left for the farm (didn't want to come back to footballs if it rained) and a few six-inchers yesterday. The yellow zucchini is also starting to come in.The "Delicata" squash seeds I got from a fellow Master Gardener turned out to be VINING squash instead of bush squash - so I ended up building another trellis. Please note that the size of

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-55541106726886370932009-07-03T22:33:00.003-04:002009-07-03T22:47:18.949-04:00

The air here outside of Kent City is full of cottonwood fluff - it looks like it is snowing. I took my Gator out through the orchard today and found that the black raspberries are just starting to get ripe - maybe one of the cluster is turning black, the rest are still red. Too bad we are leaving Sunday, I will wait until Sunday morning to pick to maximize the harvest.I pulled weeds in the four

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-5717347144682272952009-06-27T22:05:00.004-04:002009-06-27T22:16:35.950-04:00

I've never eaten kohlrabi before, although I have seen it in the grocery store. My mother never fixed it; and I never experimented. But this year I was given a gift of four kohlrabi plants which I put in my garden (I thought they were cabbage!)Today I went to meeting of the community gardeners at Unger Farm and our extension agent pointed out several gardens with kohlrabi that should be

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-2390593248121391772009-06-25T21:39:00.002-04:002009-06-25T21:43:20.982-04:00

Title of Louis Bromfield's novel, and the way I am feeling tonight. It was SO HOT and muggy this afternoon - 90 degrees (our air conditioning isn't working at home, DH has ordered parts for the air conditioner) I suggested we go to the movie theater for the evening's entertainment. We watched "The taking of Pelham 123" which was a great movie except I hate the violence. But DH loves movies

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-77535308060920709882009-06-25T07:50:00.003-04:002009-06-25T07:59:01.504-04:00

The bee balm (aka Monarda) is in bloom, just in time. In this 85-degree heat the hummingbirds have emptied their feeder. I filled it last night, the ratio being 1 cup sugar to 2 cups water.The hummingbirds seem to like the bright red color and deep-throated petals of the monarda. There are at least three separate groups of hummingbirds visiting my feeder. One goes to the woods behind the

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-72891169894834329322009-06-23T18:01:00.003-04:002009-06-23T18:35:28.776-04:00

Searched for a recipe in SOAR (searchable online archive of recipes) for arugula, and the first one that came up sounded pretty darn good. 2/3 cup pearl barley 1 pound green beans -- trimmed 1 cup fresh corn kernels 4 ounces arugula 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup white wine vinegar 3 tablespoons

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-6545510593177276252009-06-11T20:29:00.002-04:002009-06-11T20:43:15.411-04:00

I went out to check on my garden tonight after work and found this "stuff" on the backs of the leaves of one of my raspberry? Blackberry? plants (they are planted near each other and I have trouble identifying until the fruit comes on). Is it a fungus? Bug eggs? spray paint? I looked on Ohioline, it could be orange rust http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/pdf/3010.pdf which does not infect

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-66150767255555073242009-06-08T20:29:00.003-04:002009-06-08T20:40:20.119-04:00

I planted hollyhocks near the mailbox. First thing this year the neighbor, with good intentions, whacked a few of them with the weed whacker. I had to admit that it looked a lot more tidy after his ministrations. Unfortunately, the deer found the remaining hollyhocks very tasy. That thing that looks like green sticks is what is left of my hollyhocks. First they ate the blossoms at the top, the

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-35130641036074638242009-06-08T17:22:00.004-04:002009-06-08T17:37:12.781-04:00

Three years ago, I thought it might be a nice idea to have some spearmint near the door so I could garnish iced tea or lemonade with a mint leaf or two. I started a few seeds in a flat, then planted them out into a flower bed near the garage. That first year I had all the spearmint tea I wanted from fresh spearmint, and I gathered a lot of spearmint and dried it. Last year it took over the whole

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-69036076893408378822009-06-08T17:05:00.003-04:002009-06-08T17:19:48.388-04:00

Talk about slow food! It's been a while since I made lemon meringue pie. It is one of DH's favorites, and the weather is HOT, and I had lots of eggs, and happened to have some lemons in the fridge, and a prepared pie shell from the last time I made a pie.Here's the recipe:Prepare and bake a 9-inch baked pie shell. Cool.Separate 4 eggs.Mix in a double boiler top 4 TB cornstarch4 TB flour1/2 tsp

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-65538656181212955162009-06-04T22:24:00.003-04:002009-06-04T22:41:38.688-04:00

When I went to work Monday morning we had an "announcement", the plant would be closing by June 2010 or sooner if market conditions demand.Well! Ok! What next?It has been a week in shock, we don't believe there is anything we can do to change the decision that has been made, given the statements made by President Obama about the need for a "quick and surgical" bankruptcy. Quick does not mean

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-35514276517928562892009-05-30T20:52:00.002-04:002009-05-30T20:55:06.135-04:00

My wonderful husband borrowed a dump truck and we now have 4 yards of hardwood mulch in the driveway waiting to be applied, mostly to the flower beds and around trees. He is such a doll! Tomorrow is another gardening day!I have noticed that my arthritis doesn't bother me while I am in the garden, only after I leave. Is this a sign from above that I should stay in the garden longer?

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-86874135374643534782009-05-30T10:34:00.004-04:002009-05-30T12:07:44.487-04:00

DH and I got our farming done this week while on vacation at the farm. We planted 2 long, long rows of pumpkins. This year I planted jack-o-lantern size, not pie pumpkin size. I also planted some of the "white" pumpkins. Next to the pumpkins are 8 rows of green and purple snap bush beans, since we had so much good luck with them last year. Planted 2 rows of Indian corn and way across the field he

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-60993177963840020192009-05-23T22:27:00.002-04:002009-05-23T22:45:09.594-04:00

OK , still not done. This morning I was in the garden by 6:00 am; and planted four varieties of squash, green zucchini, gold zucchini, delicata squash, and another zucchini. I got four rows of sweet corn planted, but didn't get the cucumber trellis built. Tomorrow we are leaving for Kent City, got to get the cucumbers planted in the a.m. Church is at DH's Catholic mass tomorow at 7:00 which

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-87227865941039022342009-05-22T20:17:00.002-04:002009-05-22T20:32:47.054-04:00

Needless to say, I was overambitious this morning. I did plant two rows of beans, a row of peppers, and two rows of mixed broccoli, cauliflower, chinese cabbage, and kale. I filled in some baby lettuce plants between the ones that are about 4 inches high, and hoed out around the lettuce plants. Noticed a lot of the bane of my garden, hairy galinsoga (see 2006 post from July 11 - right now they

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-28637649364062185352009-05-22T08:42:00.005-04:002009-05-22T08:53:05.408-04:00

I picked lettuce leaves for our salad last night for dinner. So wonderful to have FRESH food available. You can almost see the row of lettuce plants across my garden through the deer fence I installed last weekend. If this doesn't keep them out, I am going to give up gardening!Last night my daughter and grandson helped me plant a row of beets and put a few tomatoes in the ground. Today I plan

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-20248896291967964372009-05-21T22:12:00.003-04:002009-05-22T09:15:59.225-04:00

American automakers are producers just like American farmers. Gross National Product depends on production. We need manufacturers just like we need farmers.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-35331409224994716192009-04-30T20:37:00.005-04:002009-04-30T20:56:29.660-04:00

DH has started up the woodburning fireplace insert again, since the temperature is hovering around 50 degrees. We are down to less than 1/2 a cord of firewood so will have to go and cut some more soon. I had temporarily moved my tomato and pepper seedlings outside this weekend when the temperature was up to 80 - had to move them back in. I took a tip from my podiatrist and put some plastic film

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-5828934860615719552009-04-30T19:52:00.003-04:002009-04-30T20:31:36.011-04:00

Thank goodness! See the post on the USDA web site where the Secretary of Agriculture makes it clear that "swine flu" virus is not transmitted by contact with swine, the virus is not food-borne and you cannot get the virus by eating infected meat. HERE is another link with similar statements on the APHIS web site.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-58711662105256072342009-04-27T21:38:00.003-04:002009-04-27T21:44:06.963-04:00

I worked until dark putting up 8 ft. t-post fence posts and the deer fence I ordered from A.M. Leonard. It got dark before I was finished. Some of the fence posts aren't tall enough.I wonder if I will have captured a deer in the morning - jumped in and can't get out? I don't know what to do with it if that happens....Drove over to Unger Farms and took pictures. See them at the Crawford

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-74458590402695450092009-04-25T16:15:00.003-04:002009-04-25T16:22:18.833-04:00

I received an email post from OEFFA (Ohio Ecological Food and Farmer's Association) that AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VILSACK SEEKS DIALOGUE WITH PRODUCERS AND STAKEHOLDERS ON NATIONAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM - further information would be posted on this USDA APHIS web site .I haven't seen any further posts - but what I have seen are multiple reports about swine flu on the news this week. Just

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-28577282863173229292009-04-25T16:12:00.001-04:002009-04-25T16:14:31.147-04:00

I have given up on germinating my mother-in-law's tomato seeds (see March 29 post). So far they've been sitting around in the 72-cell flat doing nothing, and they've had almost a month to do SOMETHING. I'm going to re-use the flat for something else.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-14666431340993991232009-04-25T15:57:00.001-04:002009-04-25T16:10:14.239-04:00

Last year we planted several varieties of bush beans at the farm - wax, green, and purple varieties. We mixed them all together in the row, and we had VERY LITTLE insect damage. Later I read that the bean beetles do not like the purple varieties of the bean. This was the best crop of ANYTHING we've had - four long rows of beans yielded more beans than we wanted to pick by hand, for sure! We

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-18331672213819596722009-04-22T23:38:00.002-04:002009-04-22T23:41:39.883-04:00

I have been studying vanilla. Did you know that vanilla beans come from a member of the orchid family? or that they only have beans if the flowers are either hand-pollinated or pollinated by a specific bee that lives only in Mexico? Or that vanillin is a natural flavoring derived from spruce trees? Vanillin is more "hardy" in baking than pure vanilla, it stands up to higher temperatures. Some

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-49601398012060184472009-04-04T13:13:00.004-04:002009-04-04T18:21:20.136-04:00

I wrote about my grandma, Esther Mae Klahn Ritter, on this blog about a year ago. This morning she quietly passed on to be with her Lord and Creator. She had several hospitalizations this year and was struggling quite a bit lately. At 98 years old she was a shining example for all of us of how to live a loving, humble life. I love you, Grandma!

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-19791447637902080432009-04-01T22:08:00.002-04:002009-04-01T22:19:54.827-04:00

The flats in the attached, unheated garage are cold... I ordered a propagation mat, which arrived today. I am anxious to see if it improves germination. I have two flats under lights, one is on the mat, the other is not. I am wondering if I should have ordered two or whether I need to switch off the flats every other day....

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-27877201222430401212009-03-29T12:44:00.004-04:002009-03-29T13:29:12.129-04:00

Yesterday I planted 5 flats, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, and lettuce.The tomatoes and peppers were from Johnny's selected Seeds and were some new varieties I have not tried before. I've still got a lot of seeds left to go.A few days ago I planted some tomato seeds I found in an envelope in my mother-in-law's house. The envelope was marked simply "TOMATOES" so I have

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-83385953740995956392009-03-22T11:44:00.004-04:002009-03-22T11:50:08.341-04:00

If you are interested in sustainable food production, please educate yourself about House Bill 875. See http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-875 for the full text.'To establish the Food Safety Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services to protect the public health by preventing food-borne illness, ensuring the safety of food, improving research on

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-68566505447769170262009-03-11T21:44:00.000-04:002009-03-11T21:45:18.388-04:00

Dr. Rattan LalProfessor of Soil ScienceSchool of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State UniversityCollege of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Science Dr. Rattan Lal will speak on Wednesday, March 25th at 7 p.m. in Kottman Hall 103. His topic is principles of soil management. Dr. Lal is a world-renowned expert on sustainable management of soil and natural resources, food security,

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-54720419193459863112009-03-01T15:10:00.004-05:002009-03-01T15:31:57.532-05:00

One country tradition I remember well from my childhood is having neighbors that look in on each other, and in typical small-town fashion, knowing almost everything there is to know about everyone else on the "block" or in the square-miles-wide local farm community. As a teenager I thought this was stifling, but now in my mature old age I see the wisdom of this tradition.In our fast-paced,

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-15650878317110188182009-02-17T21:40:00.003-05:002009-02-17T21:42:32.644-05:00

Crawford County, Ohio, Master Gardener training is starting soon. There are a lot of exciting educational and project opportunities this year, including a community gardens at Unger Farm. I have been a strong advocate of community gardening in the past, (as long as someone else does it) it is time for me to step up to the plate and make this happen. Please contact me, or the Crawford County

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-86877174302992764842009-02-07T10:51:00.001-05:002009-02-07T10:53:27.955-05:00

I am looking through the seed catalogs to see if any can be FEDEXed - I suggested a seed exchange to our Master Gardener's group last fall - now it's coming up and I haven't ordered seeds yet! Ouch! Of course I could take some last-year's seeds to the exchange, I am sure many are still viable, but it's not the same....

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-19452261359464454802009-01-16T09:25:00.004-05:002009-01-16T09:44:32.246-05:00

Last week we had a heavy, wet snow, and my greenhouse roof wasn't capable of supporting the snow load. DH went out a few days ago and knocked all the snow off, and although it looked better, he reported that the fiberglass rods were splintered and would have to be replaced if I intend to use the greenhouse next year. I suggested collapsible fiberglass tent poles but he thought I would be

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-37674211091185229602009-01-01T13:57:00.003-05:002009-01-01T14:21:43.066-05:00

We came back from Michigan two days ago, arriving after dark, about seven p.m. My eye caught a couple of shapes frozen at the side of the house as we turned in. Remembering that the neighbor lady had hit a deer just before Christmas just in front of our house, I jumped to the conclusion that they were deer. DH stopped the car and slowly turned his headlights directly on the shapes.They were not

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-20843434852634422882008-10-22T20:24:00.001-04:002008-10-22T20:26:08.224-04:00

I forgot to mention a few weeks ago I bought the most FANTASTIC huge red peppers at the farmer's market from a local farmer. No idea what variety they were, but I saved the seeds from one of them. I've had them outside wrapped in a paper towel to dry, need to put them in a small jar to save them overwinter. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, comes up from these seeds.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-43685387318233534472008-10-22T20:23:00.001-04:002008-10-22T20:23:43.027-04:00

Last night DH borrowed the neighbor's backhoe tractor and took 5 loads of compost from the compost pile to my garden. He "mushed" up the rest of the compost pile, and made room to dump this year's leaves in a bare spot. Hopefully we'll be able to alternate year-to-year from now on. There are a lot of big branches in the pile, probably we'll have to eventually pull some of these out.I moved the

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-58693093458000982512008-10-12T15:42:00.003-04:002008-10-12T16:15:55.209-04:00

DH and I spent some time this weekend in the garden, cleaning up. I took out all my bamboo trellises, and he and I together pulled up all the mulching fabric. That was kind of an adventure, because the one section that had wood chips on top of it, plus weeds growing through the mulch into the fabric, weighed about a ton. We tied a rope around it and tried pulling it off with the 4-wheeler, and

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-54481449634002038112008-09-28T21:17:00.004-04:002008-09-28T21:26:17.472-04:00

I'm afraid I gave up on my garden early this year. I was just too discouraged by the damage that the deer, raccoons and groundhogs did. The only crop they didn't destroy was the peppers.Next year I will definitely have some strategies for deterring them before they become a problem. Electric fence? 8-foot tall deer fence? Wire mesh around individual plants?DH is mowing over my filbert trees next

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-9300722037573354522008-08-29T19:35:00.003-04:002008-08-29T19:42:07.212-04:00

Instead of a garden I think I have a wildlife preserve. Today I came home from work and chased a raccoon out of the garden. He had the biggest green tomato in my garden in his little paws and he dropped it and raced away. I didn't get his picture but I got a crime scene photo, with the evidence he left behind.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-78238192091836009102008-08-27T21:45:00.002-04:002008-08-27T21:48:21.119-04:00

We've had a mini-drought for the last 2-3 weeks, just a sprinkle one day last week, and no other rain at all. While sunny days are quite pleasant, they're not really very good for the garden. I've watered some, I installed a new soaker hose along some of the rows, but my cucumbers have really had it, and probably aren't going to survive.The tomatoes are going great guns, but the rabbits are

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-81375842092937105022008-08-09T10:24:00.009-04:002008-08-29T23:05:04.337-04:00

It's been a week since the family reunion and I finally feel recovered enough now to write about it! Yesterday we got a beautiful card from a cousin - she said that when they woke up the next morning it seemed like a beautiful dream. Such a nice way of putting it, I felt exactly the same way.We had nearly perfect weather, 80 degrees, low humidity and not a cloud in the sky, and lots of fun.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-87919048528308794702008-07-18T20:57:00.007-04:002008-07-19T16:28:52.925-04:00

It seems that the tomato scare has changed buying and eating patterns. According to an AP poll, a majority of people surveyed want more information about where their food is coming from.An Associated Press-Ipsos poll finds that nearly half of consumers have changed their eating and buying habits in the past six months because they're afraid they could get sick by eating contaminated food. They

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-74776188005512059862008-07-18T20:39:00.003-04:002008-07-18T20:42:33.377-04:00

I'm planning a North Central Ohio Farmgirls chapter meeting in August, either the 2nd or 3rd weekend. We'll be putting on our aprons and making cherry pies. It will be a great time, and we'll talk about the possibility of a "henhouse" on Mary Jane's web site. Please register by sending me an email or calling.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-20964103807233307212008-07-18T20:37:00.001-04:002008-07-18T20:39:06.978-04:00

Went to TSC today and priced the electric fencers to keep the deer out of my garden. I ended up buying a product that you spray on your garden plants (or around the perimeter, I hope) that is made of putrified eggs, garlic, and cayenne pepper.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-27174972770057339192008-07-17T22:06:00.004-04:002008-07-17T22:13:06.972-04:00

I see the deer have been making themselves at home in my garden. At least I am pretty sure it is the deer and not the baby rabbit I noticed at the edge of the yard tonight. They've been munching on the lettuce, the cucumbers, and really feasting on the corn. I'm going to be lucky if I harvest two ears of corn here in Ohio.Last year my dog Chip was probably effective at keeping the deer at the

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-48851708764188014272008-07-07T22:11:00.002-04:002008-07-07T22:37:58.515-04:00

Yesterday and today I put the bamboo trellises and wire cages around my tomato plants here in Ohio. It might be a few days late for some of them, some varieties are growing like mad. I can really tell the difference between the determinate and indeterminate varieties. I picked the first baby zucchinis today, and fixed them for lunch, tossing them with pasta and mixed vegetables and some

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-84056764094896971982008-07-06T20:48:00.002-04:002008-07-06T20:53:33.537-04:00

I missed the Farmer's Market in Bellville this week. I have several heads of lettuce I could have taken, but didn't go. I did stop by to drop off empty egg cartons and look for fresh eggs, Joan's mother said she sold out early, if I had taken my lettuce I probably would have sold out too, as mostly the people there had baked goods.I've given away 5 heads, used two for DH and myself, plan to

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-82458491658299816162008-07-01T19:14:00.002-04:002008-07-01T22:29:32.185-04:00

The bees are still going out for a last bit of nectar an hour before sunset.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-37194365506157491782008-07-01T19:10:00.002-04:002008-07-01T22:32:12.043-04:00

I trimmed this tree this spring before it leafed out. I don't know what variety it is - but the blossoms came a week or two later than the rest of the orchard. There was a late freeze and a lot of the trees have no apples - but this one does. I still don't know what variety!

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-65257228919152554382008-07-01T19:04:00.001-04:002008-07-01T22:34:42.053-04:00

I don't know if the Cloud Nine sweet corn in this field will be "knee-high" by the fourth of July - I doubt it. We planted it the week of Memorial Day - but the soil in this field is poor. DH had some problems with the corn planter, it gave up the last gasp this year, we'll be looking for a new one the next time we plant sweet corn.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-43858920092534110292008-07-01T18:40:00.001-04:002008-07-01T22:36:04.787-04:00

DH planted "How Sweet it Is" sweet corn here - this field has a lot of moisture, in a low spot, but also has good drainage. It should do well.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-48780139281773643672008-07-01T18:38:00.003-04:002008-07-01T22:37:41.788-04:00

I counted 73 tomato plants and 71 pumpkin plants that I planted at the farm. Since I just planted the tomatoes this week and last I don't know if they will actually have time to establish a root system, set flowers, and ripen fruit, but since I don't have room at home to plant them I guess any tomatoes I get here will be a bonus. The pumpkins were an afterthought, since he tilled up the whole

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-10771146240522059482008-06-29T18:01:00.003-04:002008-06-29T18:29:31.081-04:00

We had the grandchildren at the farm this weekend. They had so much fun they cried when it was time to go home. Now that they're gone it is so quiet here.We rode the Gator around the farm, looked at rocks and bugs and plants, including the 30 or so tomato plants I planted last weekend, all in a row down the side of the sweet corn field. I think they are going to survive, although I'm not sure if

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-48855515661020322502008-06-26T21:41:00.002-04:002008-06-26T21:44:00.421-04:00

I picked about 2 quarts of peas tonight, an I think I am done with the peas. I pulled many of the vines out. A few days ago I pulled weeds near the peas and planted cucumbers in their place. The lettuce is just about ready, the leaf lettuce is heading up nicely.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-88729633006970475622008-06-23T22:26:00.001-04:002008-06-23T22:27:52.603-04:00

I've never had a problem with cutworms before, but yesterday we got home and I checked the garden and found two tomato plants that were cut off right at the ground.I will put cardboard collars around my remaining plants tomorrow.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-76975335300463234932008-06-21T15:22:00.002-04:002008-06-21T15:40:21.231-04:00

I GOT A GATOR!!!! DH spotted it on Craigslist, it was close to our house, it was in our price range, it worked, and we bought it! It's supposed to be my toy - but DH has been tinkering with it ever since we got it. We borrowed the neighbors' trailer and brought it to the farm this weekend. So much better than riding on the axle of the tractor and balancing on the fender when we both want to

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-67979618234839203942008-06-13T20:09:00.001-04:002008-06-13T20:11:13.734-04:00

Last night I took all the flats out of the garage and put them on the sidewalk next to the garage. Right now they are taking advantage of the wet rain and slightly cooler weather. I am hoping to be able to plant some of them tomorrow morning if it isn't too wet, and maybe get my cucumber seeds into the ground.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-45685327869133506542008-06-11T20:58:00.003-04:002008-06-11T21:11:44.080-04:00

I FINALLY planted my pole beans. I made a tepee from three bamboo poles and then used garden staples to run nylon string from the top to the bottom. Got them in on Sunday - just before the storm came through on Tuesday morning. I checked tonight to see if there are any sprouts yet but didn't see a one.We got quite a bit of rain on Tuesday - but not much of a storm on Monday. The weather

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-28290397266517843682008-05-30T22:31:00.002-04:002008-05-30T22:37:00.526-04:00

We spent the week at the farm. DH miscalculated slightly and plowed and tilled a few more acres than we needed for the sweet corn that we had. He planted Cloud Nine, Illinois X-tra Sweet, Early Xtra-Sweet, Northern, Xtra-Sweet, Xtra-Tender, and an experimental variety we were sent by Vermont Bean Seed. We also had a little package of Indian corn so he planted it too. Since we had available

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-72918941647516899092008-05-27T14:57:00.002-04:002008-05-27T15:05:14.466-04:00

Memorial Day weekend! Past the last frost date, finally. I pulled the black fabric over the garden and pinned it down, then transplanted tomatoes, lettuce and zucchini. If I remember correctly, by this time last year my lettuce was much bigger, but then I planted it out earlier into the garden. The tomato plants were also smallish, only 1 or 2 sets of true leaves, but I'm going on the theory

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-4260866417194891912008-05-16T21:23:00.002-04:002008-05-16T21:27:36.033-04:00

We went ahead anyway. It has been raining off and on for the last two weeks! Today the sun was out and the top layer of the garden was dried out -- but underneath it was still wet. I tilled anyway - first tried the Mantis - DH laughs at me when I try it - then he hauls out the Troy-bilt Junior and tills a few rows and turns it over to me. He thinks my rows look like a drunken sailor tilled

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-74165254449323251652008-05-13T17:38:00.004-04:002008-05-13T17:42:37.801-04:00

I fixed salad for dinner last night and topped it off with baby salad greens from my seedlings - they've really grown, but we've had so much rain in the last week I can't get into the garden. It's nice today, I can't go out tonight because of Master Gardener class - and tomorrow it's supposed to rain again. I have been starting another tray of lettuce every 10 - 14 days, so hopefully I will have

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-3135022939180230452008-05-13T17:14:00.004-04:002008-05-13T17:36:04.240-04:00

We had frost this morning - I hope it was the last frost of the season. The weather this afternoon is beautiful, almost 70 and the sky is clear. Master Gardenener class tonight- we're being tested on insects!

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-51831855298983017172008-05-12T18:05:00.003-04:002008-05-13T17:33:09.277-04:00

I'm making apple-rhubarb pandowdy - I found that the huge leaves of my rhubarbs were overshadowing my little beet leaves so I clipped the rhubarb back.DH loved the apple pandowdy but he picked around all the rhubarb.

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-66852253972242008202008-05-08T22:53:00.004-04:002008-05-13T17:34:48.521-04:00

Finally, after 4 weeks, my Yellow Magic tomatoes have burst out of their seed jackets and are waving their two little leaves at me.I wish I knew what made them finally decide to wake up! The temperature today was about 65 degrees outside - we've had both colder weather and hotter weather. I think the average temp in my little greenhouse during the day was probably in the 80's but these last two

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-39647907353226428482008-05-04T23:10:00.003-04:002008-05-04T23:16:30.197-04:00

OK, I've made a decision to buy local, and to practice organic gardening. Not always easy choices!I know there is free horse manure at many places locally, including riding stables, racetracks, and boarding stables. But I don't have any way to haul it! I've considered getting a hitch put on my little Aztec and buying a used trailer, suitable for hauling manure. Cost will probably be at least

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-18305639235232044832008-05-02T20:20:00.002-04:002008-05-02T20:26:46.710-04:00

We were expecting snow (and got it) a few days ago, but my rhubarb is bolting. I am told it does that when the temperatures are high. We've had 65-degree days highs in the last few days. I am thinking of investing in a couple of weather stations so that I can capture degree-day information to my computer. Will post the results of my research here when complete. In my master gardener courses

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-26332033532460192008-04-28T22:34:00.003-04:002008-04-28T22:41:05.403-04:00

I am staying up late - I want to see what the temperature is at 11:00 p.m, I have to make a decision whether to put a small ceramic space heater in the greenhouse. We are supposed to get snow later tonight. I am sure the tomatoes and eggplant seedlings will not like that.For sure my peach tree will probably lose its blossoms, and maybe the apple tree, too. The blossoms on the apple tree are

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-82756251270621915682008-04-28T22:11:00.004-04:002008-04-28T22:32:20.699-04:00

Bob Hooker, a beekeeper and Vice President of the Ohio State Beekeepers Association, is seeking your help in a matter of deep concern to beekeepers across Ohio. The Ohio Department of Agriculture plans to make cuts to their Apiary (Beekeeping) Regulatory Program this summer. The Ohio State Beekeepers Association (OSBA) believes this is a mistake and endangers the beekeeping industry in Ohio. They

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-61043384856547864392008-04-28T21:09:00.003-04:002008-04-28T21:17:56.121-04:00

My rhubarb is ready! This morning I went to the garden and found huge seed stalks that looked almost like cauliflower. I cut them out, and harvested a few stalks this evening. Left the leaves in the garden to mulch the awful creeping charlie.Strawberries here won't be ready for another month or so -- but I still have a few strawberries in the freezer from last year. If you don't, there HAVE been

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-66278287071356487182008-04-26T17:49:00.001-04:002008-04-27T22:42:01.117-04:00

My dear husband and his brother spent the weekend plowing and disking the fields at the farm to get them ready for planting sweet corn - we are planting about 3 acres. Hope to have it ripe for the family reunion we are planning in August. Like always, they aren't having fun unless they break something. The Ford tractor needed a head gasket repair, followed by some welding. Took a big chunk

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-49783946513856267192008-04-26T16:50:00.004-04:002008-04-27T22:58:25.287-04:00

I was smiling in the orchard today - I used a hand saw to do some pruning on a few selected trees and found this little guy smiling back at me! Later I asked my wonderful husband to bring over his chain saw and trimmed a little closer - got rid of the stub where this diseased wood was showing. I trimmed two apple trees and one Damson plum. I mostly used a hand pruner and now have a sore spot on

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30913910.post-20968299547789678602008-04-24T21:49:00.001-04:002008-04-24T21:55:28.927-04:00

The daffodils are beautiful in the flowerbed next to the patio. I planted some last year that were supposed to be "pink" but so far I have some ivory-colored ones and some that are deep yellow with darker gold trumpets. The Breck's catalog (not where I ordered them) says that some pink daffodils start out yellow then turn pink later, but the blossoms have faded on some of the yellow ones

Bright Meadow Farmshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159674153281927729noreply@blogger.com0